We wanted to make sure our guests felt a bit like we were all at home together.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are both passionate and driven people with a shared interest for design, travel and food. Xara is a lawyer and Francesco a designer, with a common dream to become winemakers one day in the future. Every weekend is a great opportunity for a cheeky getaway, especially since we moved to London from Australia, we cannot get enough of all the beauty that Europe has to give. We love hosting friends and family for dinner, making sure every detail of the evening is curated, from the food and wine pairing, to the music, the lights… We like the simple things that are meaningful: laughing, listening, and a good hug.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
We met in Sydney in 2022, our first date was sitting on a rock at Balmoral beach, for many hours, talking about pretty much everything that came to mind. Conversation started flowing and it never stopped. It was really special. It was very much one of those “oh wow” moments, when you realise that the person in front of you is nothing like any other human you’ve met before. Within the first week we had seen each other five times, within the first month we had acknowledged that we were in love, and within the first five months we had bought a home together. It all felt right and never rushed.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).
We decided to get married in Tuscany as the very first thing we spoke about was the dream of making wine there, one day. Tuscany is also where Francesco was born, as well as a pretty spectacular place in general… Wine was definitely part of the design, hence the choice of a winery as the venue, but also we wanted to make sure our guests felt a bit like we were all at home together. Not too formal; inviting and simple. The colours, the accessories, the dress code, were all intended to reinforce this sense of wholesome, genuine togetherness. A lot of these elements were simply driven by the location itself: we wanted to only add details which felt like they were there all along, from the furniture to the florals.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
Definitely the location itself, which was once a noble villa belonging to a cardinal, but which is now proudly showing the patina of time. Tastefully decadent, not opulent, just genuine. We are always attracted to what feels real, not fabricated. Beauty is the harmony of imperfect things, which are perfect together, and our location truly reflects that. The views from the venue are simply breathtaking: the perfect background for our moment.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
We approached it very much like a design project: an opportunity to create an event with all the people we love, where we could bring together so many things that are important to us. Every detail that needed planning gave us the chance to make it our own. It was certainly a major project, especially given that it is something you do for the first time and never again: lots of quick learnings, lots of changes in direction, countless wine bottles to fuel our creativity over our “dinner meetings”. It took us a year and the best tip we can share with couples planning their wedding is to not see it as a chore, but as a great opportunity to create something that is your own.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
As the wedding weekend went by so fast, the first that comes to mind is who made it so that we can remember and relive it: our photographer Meredith Lord, our videographer Ash Reid (Florence and Friends). Really, every vendor did an incredible job, from the restaurant to the pastry chef, musicians and dj. The florists, the venue itself.. besides all of our planning, we feel very fortunate that everyone involved turned out to be a superstar.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Xara has shown just how determined she was when she put down a deposit for her dress at the very first appointment she and her mum went to. Very much in line with the rest of the decisions we make: you know it when something is just right. Simplicity has always been a theme for us: no frills, nothing loud, just clean and real. She was also wearing her grandmother’s ring which is a shared heirloom in the family, perfect for the occasion being old, borrowed, and blue. Francesco got to wear a pair of shoes that Xara’s late father, Graham, had bought but never got to wear. After trying them on in Sydney, realising the size was just Cinderella-perfect, he asked Xara’s family for permission to wear them at our wedding. Which was very special. Also he was wearing his grandfather’s watch.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
We became a couple on 11/11/22, and the 11 11 has always been present as an element in many aspects of our lives since. Francesco wanted to include this element in the engagement ring, and found a goldsmith (McCaul) who was willing to make a bespoke ring, despite him never having designed jewelry before. The concept was that two sets of parallel lines would hold up the diamond, which needed to be seen not only from the top, but also the sides, and the bottom. So two elevens that hold up a floating stone – not the easiest..But after a couple of months of design reviews, negotiating changes in the order of 0.2 millimeter details, it eventually turned up just perfect. Thanks David, Barry and Sarah! The wedding bands are both the same as the section of Xara’s engagement ring.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
All of the above? The venue was the first thing we chose, which then also informed the choices we made in terms of food and wine – very important. It was crucial for us to find photographers and videographers in line with our style. It was definitely the most important thing to get right, as their work is what will truly stay with us forever. And we couldn’t have chosen better.
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
We had a lot of fun plating the first course for the dinner, as a symbolic way to host all of our guests as if it were our home. One of the most meaningful things that our wedding has gifted us with has been our “two worlds” coming together for a weekend: Xara’s family is from Australia, Francesco’s is from Italy. We have always wondered how the two would interact, finding ways to overcome the language barrier, sharing moments celebrating unity and love that knows no boundaries. Reading our vows to each other, listening to the speeches.. those moments were certainly the most emotional.
LOCATION & HIRE Fattoria di Cinciano, @fattoriacinciano PHOTOGRAPHER Meredith Lord Photography, @meredithlord VIDEOGRAPHER Florence and Friends, @florenceandfriends.studio PLANNER Happening, @happening_tuscany FLORIST Lepri Fioristi ENTERTAINMENT Band- Gin Sonic, @gin_sonic_; DJ- Alexaander Dj, @alexaanderdj CATERING Osteria 1126, @osteria1126 at Fattoria di Cinciano, @fattoriacinciano CAKE Pasticceria Mario Barone, @pasticceria_mariobarone STATIONERY & SIGNAGE we did it ourselves WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT RINGS McCaul Goldsmiths, @mccaulgoldsmiths BRIDE’S MAIN OUTFIT Made With Love, @madewithlovebridal BRIDE’S SHOES Me+Em, @meandem BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Jenny Bird earrings, @_jennybird BRIDE’S HAIR AND MAKEUP Nelli Made, @nelli_made BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Chloe, @chloe GROOM’S MAIN OUTFIT Old taylor in his hometown GROOM’S SHOES Church’s, @churchs GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Longines chronograph, @longines; RSF Warhol sunglasses GROOM’S FRAGRANCE Promise, Dominique Ropion for Frederic Malle, @fredericmalle BRIDESMAID DRESSES Reformation, @reformation
